Parasiticides Used in Reptiles
Drug | Dosage | Parasite | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Endoparasiticides | |||
Fenbendazole | 25–100 mg/kg, PO, every 14 days for up to 4 treatments 50 mg/kg/day, PO, for 3–5 days | Roundworms, Hexamita | Can cause leukopenia |
Ivermectin | 200 mcg/kg, PO, IM, SC, repeat after 14 days | Not in chelonians; care in skinks and indigo snakes | |
Levamisole | 5–10 mg/kg, SC, intracoelomic, repeat after 14 days | Lungworms and other nematodes | Snakes, lizards, care in tortoises (use 5 mg/kg) |
Mebendazole | 20–25 mg/kg, PO, repeat after 14 days | Strongyles and ascarids | |
Metronidazole | 20–40 mg/kg, PO, every 1–2 days for 2–5 treatments | Protozoa | |
Oxfendazole | 25 mg/kg, PO, as a single dose | Nematodes | |
Paromomycin | Most species: 35–100 mg/kg/day, PO, for 28 days Snakes: 100 mg/kg, PO, every day for 7 days, then twice weekly for 3 months Gila monsters: 300–360 mg/kg, PO, every 2 days for 14 days Geckos: 300–800 mg/kg, PO, every day | Amoebas, cryptosporidia | Does not eliminate cryptosporidia |
Ponazuril | Bearded dragons: 30 mg/kg, PO, every 2 days for two treatments | Coccidiosis | |
Praziquantel | 8 mg/kg, PO, SC, IM, repeat after 14 days and 28 days | Tapeworms, flukes | |
Pyrantel | Most species: 5 mg/kg, PO, repeat in 14 days Chameleons: 5–10 mg/kg, PO, every 14 days Sea turtles: 25–50 mg/kg, PO, every 3 days for 3 treatments | Nematodes Spirorchidiasis | |
Spiramycin | 160 mg/kg/day for 10 days, then twice weekly for 3 months | Snakes with cryptosporidiosis | May reduce clinical signs but does not clear infection |
Toltrazuril | 5–15 mg/kg/day, PO, for 3 days 15 mg/kg, every 48 hours for 10 days; discontinue for 2 weeks; repeat every 48 hours for 10 days, and repeat as necessary | Bearded dragons, coccidiosis Tortoises, intranuclear coccidiosis | Safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic data lacking |
Trimethoprim-sulfa | 30 mg/kg/day, PO, for 10–28 days | Coccidia | |
Ectoparasiticides | |||
Dichlorvos-impregnated strip | 6 mm strip/10 cubic feet in cage for 3 hours every 2 days for 2–4 weeks | Toxic, vivarium should be emptied; keep out of direct contact of animals | |
Fipronil | Spray or wipe on, then wash off in 5 minutes, every 7–10 days | Mites and ticks, beware of reactions to alcohol carrier, needs safety evaluation | |
Ivermectin (10 mg/mL) | By spraying, 5–10mg/L water every 3–5 days up to 28 days | Mites and ticks | Should not be used in chelonians; use care in skinks and indigo snakes |
Permethrin (10%) | Topical spray for animal and environment | Mites and ticks, FDA-approved | Licensed product available for reptiles in the USA |